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Cameo: Julio-Claudian Imperial Portrait
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This fragment of a cameo depicts a man wearing a laurel crown and facing right. Roman cameo gems were made by carving through layers of banded semiprecious stones to create an image, here a portrait in off-white with a tan background. Scholars have identified this portrait as various members of the Julio-Claudian imperial family based on the laurel crown and style of the portrait. <br><br>The close-cropped wavy hair, thinly arched brow, aquiline nose, and rounded chin are similar to depictions of many Julio-Claudian princes and emperors who can only be differentiated by inscriptions. The imperial family was represented with very similar features to support a unified dynastic image.
| Artist / Maker | Italy, Rome, Early Imperial period |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 BCE–54 CE |
| Culture / Origin | Italy, Rome, Early Imperial period |
| Medium | travertine |
| Dimensions | Overall: 4.6 x 6.4 cm (1 13/16 x 2 1/2 in.) |
| Department | Greek and Roman Art |
| Type | Sculpture |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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